Advertising display



Jan. 2, 1962 E. A. RUTKowsKl ADVERTISING DISPLAY Filed Oct. 16, 1958 INVENTOR. EDM/MU/*KOWSH BY pms' 52 f/s//m United States Patent Office 3,015,178 Patented J an. 2, 1962 3,015,178 ADVERTISING DISPLAY Edward A. Rutkowski, 3077 W. 32nd St., Cleveland 13, Ohio Filed Oct. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 767,637 6 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) This invention pertains to a display device and more particularly to a type of display device for providing illuminated display of a visual message.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel and improved display device which has an internally illuminated frame structure and a disposable, translucent, display presenting sheet wrapped around the frame and illuminated by the interior illumination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved point of purchase display device which includes a collapsible frame member and a display sheet member, which members are readily dismantleable into component parts and in which the component parts may be easily and readily assembled thereby facilitating storage and mailing of the device.

A related object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved display -device in which one of the parts is a tubular part sized to accommodate all of the remaining parts in the interior thereof to facilitate storage and mailing.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved advertising display which has a pair of uprights and a pair of tubular cross members which are connectable to the uprights to provide a collapsible frame. The display also has alight bulb, a light socket positionable in an aperture in the frame, a translucent, liexible, disposable display sheet which may be wrapped around the tubes to close apertures defined by the frame, and a device in which one of the tubes, the uprights, the light bulb, the socket, and the display sheet, are all positionable in the interior of the other of the tubes for storage and shipment.

Another specialized object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved display device having interchangeable and disposable, translucent, flexible display sheets and including a storage cavity in the interior of the display frame for the display sheets which are not 1n use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a point of purchase advertising display frame comprised of iirst and second uprights and rst and second tubular cross members, which tubular cross members include reduced diameter end portions and end caps positionable over the reduced diameter portions and which uprights have apertures to receive the reduced diameter end portions in order to provide a frame which may be assembled by inserting the reduced diameter end portions in the apertures and thereafter positioning the end caps on the end portions of the tubes.

Other obje-cts and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: i

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of the display device with the parts broken away and removed; p

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the display;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view` on an enlarged scale with respect to FIGURES 1 and 2 and with parts broken away and removed;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the side panels, or uprights; and,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale and with parts broken away and removed showing the display device in a collapsed and stored 'condition for mailing or storage.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, the frame is shown generally at 101. The frame in the preferred and disclosed arrangement comprises first and second side panel uprights 11, 12 and upper and lower frame cross members 13, 14.

The frame is preferably made of cardboard covered with aluminum or other metal foil. The me-tal foil serves to make the frame hre-resistant. It also makes the frame attractive. In addition the metal foil serves as a reector for illumination means carried in a hollow or space 1S defined by the frame 10.

The illumination means preferably takes the form of a long thin type light bulb 16 which is carried in a light socket 17. The long thin bulb is Vused to facilitate storage. The light socket 17 is positionable in an aperture 18 in the lower frame member 14. A asher 20 is preferably series connected to the light bulb 16 and the socket 17. The asher 20 may be any of the well known units which cause the light bulb to flash intermittently.

The upper and lower members 13, 14 are cross members that tie the panel uprights 11, 12 together. This is preferably accomplished by providing removable upper and lower end caps 23, 24 at the ends of the upper and lower cross members 13, 14 respectively. The end caps 23, 24 are tied to the respective cross members 13, 14 by upper and lower tubular inserts 25, 26 which form a part of the cross members 13, 14. The tubular inserts 25, 26 iit snugly into -the interior of the cross members 13, 14 which are preferably cylindrical tubes. The tubular inserts 25, 26 also fit snugly into the end caps 23, 24. The inserts preferably are fixed to the cross members to form reduced diameter end portions projecting at both ends of both cross members. The inserts 25, 26 pass through upper and lower apertures 27, 28 which are formed in the side panels 11, 12 respectively. In the case `of the apertures 27, 28, only one of each is shown in detail at the right hand side of FIGURE 1 for clarity of illustration.

The side panels 11, 12 may be die cut from cardboard. Each ofthe side panels 11, 12 has Ventilating louvers 30 formed therein. The Ventilating louvers are tab-like cutouts which may be formed at the time when the side members are die cut. The Ventilating louvers are provided to permit cooling circulation of air to the light bulb.

A transversely extending groove or score 33 may be formed in each of the sidepanels when the cut-out operation is performed. EachV groove 33 permits the lower portion of each panel to be bent inwardly to form feet 31, 32. The feet 31, 32 stabilize the display if it is placed on a counter or other surface for display.

At least the side panel 11 includes a projection 34 which extendsV into a slot 35 in the lower cross member. The projection 34 `and slot 35 interconnect to hold the lower cross member 14 in position and prevent rotation relative to the side panels. This interconnecting means prevents shifting of the light bulb to one side or the other and therefore hold it erect in a vertical position.

One of the outstanding advantages of the invention is provided by a exible translucent covering 40. The covering '40 is the advertising display. The display 40 is preferably an elongated one piece sheet that includes pressure sensitive adhesive 41 across the ends of the displayV 40. The display 40 is wrapped around the cross members 13, 14, which thus serve as sign supports. The ends of the display are connected to the upper cross member 13 by the pressure sensitive adhesive 41. The display it? completely covers the hollow 15 and the frame area between the uprights 11, 12. The illumination from within gives the display lprominence and eye appeal.

The display 40 may take the simple form of a printed sheet of paper. Since it can be an inexpensive printed sheet of paper, it can be replaced frequently with a newer and different advertising display. The paper display may be coiled for storage within one of the cross members. A second display is indicated by the numeral 42 in FIG- URE 3 where it is coiled and stored within the lower cross member 14. It will be seen that a group of displays may be stored in the lower member and the display can be quickly-and easily changed as frequently as desired.

Another of the outstanding advantages of the invention is shown in FIGURE 5. Analysis of that figure will show that the entire mechanism is dismantleable for storage within the lower cross member 14. The appropriate numerals identify the various parts shown in the broken away perspective view of tlie tube 14. As best seen in FIGURE 4 the side panels 11, 12 have a longitudinal score 45 which permits them to be folded for storage within the tube. The end caps 23, 24 and louvers 30 cooperate to hold the side panels 11, 12 fiat when the frame 10 is assembled.

One of the principal advantages of the invention is that the entire assembly including perhaps a dozen displays can be mailed as a unit with the lower cross member 14 serving as a mailing tube. The aperture 18 which received the light socket may be closed by pasting a shipping sticker over it. Thus, a simple and inexpensive advertising display is provided that is completely dismantleable for storage and shipping. At the same time, it may be simply, quickly and easily erected by anyon-e who cares to do so. No involved instructions are required.

Another advantage is that for the first time an inexpensive disposable illuminating display has been provided. It is carried by what is preferably a simple and dismantleable frame.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred "forni has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutk departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. An advertising display comprising, first and second thin upright panels, each of the panels having first and secondvertically spaced circular apertures formed therein, first and second sign supporting tubes, each of the tube-s also including first and second end portions each sized to telescope snugly into one of the panel apertures, said tubes 'and panels together forming a dismantleable hollow frame when the first tube ends are positioned in the first panel apertures and the second tube ends are positioned in the second apertures, la translucent flexible display sheet connect- 'able -to the frame, the sheet being sized to Wrap around said tubes and fill the space between said uprights when the device is assembled, the first tube being larger than the second tube and being positioned below the second tube when the device is assembled, a light bulb, a light socket to receive the bulb, said frame having a socket receiving aperture formed therein, the socket being mounted in said aperture with the light bulbdisposed in said frame hollow when the display is assembled, and said second tube, said sheet, said bulb, said socket, and said panels being simultaneously disposable within said first tube for storage and mailing.

2. An advertising display comprising, first and second thin upright panels, each of the panels having first and second vertically spaced circular apertures formed therein, rst and second sign supporting tubes, each of the tubes also including first and second end portions each sized to telescope snugly into one of the panel apertures, said tubes and panels together forming a dismantleable frame when the first tube ends are positioned in the first panel apertures and the second tube ends are positioned in the second apertures, a translucent flexible display sheet connectable to the frame, the sheet being sized to wrap around said tubes and fill the space between said uprights when the device is assembled, the first tube being larger than the second tube and being positioned below the second tube when the device is assembled, a light bulb, a light socket to receive the bulb, said first tube having a socket receiving aperture formed therein, the socket being mounted in said aperture, said first tube and one of said panels including interconnection means to prevent rotation of the first tube relative tothe said one panel when the device is assembled, said panels each having a longitudinally extending folding groove formed therein, and said second tube, said sheet, said bulb, said socket, land said panels when bent along said fold being simultaneously disposable within said first tube for storage and mailing.

3. An advertising display comprising, first land second thin upright panels, each of the panels having first and second vertically spaced circular apertures formed therein, first and second sign supporting tubes, each of the tubes also including first and second portions each sized to telescope snugly into one of the panel apertures, said tubes and panels together forming a dismantleable frame when the first tube ends are positioned in the first panel apertures and the second tube ends are positioned in the second apertures, said panels including feet means 'to support the frame with the tubes vertically spaced, said panels also having cutout tabs bent when the frame is assembled to extend into the interior of the frame to provide Ventilating louvers, a translucent flexible display sheet connectable to the frame, the sheet being sized to wrap around said tubes and fill the space between said uprights when the device is assembled, the first tube being larger than the second tube and being positioned below the second tube when the device is assembled, a light bulb, a light socket to receive the bulb, said first tube having a socket receiving aperture formed therein, the socket being mountable in said aperture, and said second tube, said sheet, said bulb, said socket, and said panels being simultaneously disposable within said first tube for storage and mailing.

4. An advertising display comprising, first and second thin upright panels, each of the panels having first and second vertically spaced circular apertures formed therein, first and second sign supporting tubes, each of said tubes including first and second end caps, each of the tubes also including first and second reduced diameter end portions, the first tube ends being sized to telescope snugly into said panel firstV apertures, said second tube ends being sized to telescope snugly into said panel second apertures, said tube ends also being sized to snugly receive and retain one ofthe end caps, said tubes and panels together forming a dismantleable frame when the first tube ends are positioned in the first panel apertures and the second tube ends are positioned in the secoiid apertures and the end caps are positioned on the tube ends, a translucent fiexible display sheet connectable to the frame, the' sheet Vbeing,sia'ed'to wrap around said tubesand fill the space between said uprights when the device is assembled, the first tube being larger than the second tube and kbeing positioned below the second tube when the device is assembled, a light bulb, a light socket torreceive the bulb, said first tube having a socket receiving aperture formed therein, the socket beingfmountable in said aperture, andsaid second tube, said sheet, said bulb,y said socket and said panels being simultaneously disposable within said firsttube for-storage and mailing.

5. An advertising display comprising, first. and second thiny upright panels, each ofthe panels having first and second vertically spaced circular apertures formed therein, first and second sign supporting tubes, each of said tubes including first and second eiidcaps, each of the tubesalso including first and'second reduced diameter end portions, the first tube ends sized to telescope snugly into said panel first apertures, said second tube ends being sized to telescope snugly intosaid panel second apertures, said tub@ @Iltis ,21.150 being sized to snugly receive and retain one of the end caps, said tubes and panels together forming a dismantleable frame when the first tube ends are positioned in the irst panel apertures and the second tube ends are positioned in the second apertures and the end caps are positioned on the tube ends, said panels including feet means to support the frame with the tubes vertically spaced, said panels also having cut out tabs bent when the frame is assembled to extend into the interior of the frame to provide Ventilating louvers, a translucent exible display sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive at at least one end thereof for removable connection, the sheet being sized to wrap around said tubes and fill the space between said uprights when the device is assembled, the lrst tube being larger than the second tube and being positioned below the second tube when the device is assembled, a light bulb, a light socket to receive the bulb, flasher means connected to said socket to provide pulsating electrical impulses to said socket and bulb, said first tube having a socket receiving aperture formed therein, the socket being mounted in said aperture, said panels each having a longitudinally extending folding groove formed therein, and said second tube, said sheet, said bulb, said socket, said asher and said panels when bent along said fold being simultaneously disposable within said rst tube for storage and mailing.

6. A display device comprising, a pair of spaced upright members, a pair of spaced display support members disposed transversely to the upright members, the members of one pair including dismantleable means rigidly connecting each of the supports to each of the uprights to maintain the respective spacing between the upright and support members, the members together defining the perimeter of an open-ended display space, a lleXible advertising display sheet positioned around the supports, means securing the ends of the sheet together in a lixed position around said supports, the sheet. ends being so secured together to form an endless belt tightly reeved around the supports to removably retain the sheet in said position, and both of the ends of said space defined by the members being substantially closed by said sheet, one of said support members being tubular, said one support member having open end when said dismantleable means is dismantled, and the other of said members and said sheet being positionable within said one tube.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,501,840 Bradford Mar. 28, 1950 2,555,135 Johnson May 29, 1951 2,609,489 Roman Sept. 2, 1952 2,654,970 Miller Oct. 13, 1953 2,721,409 Bland Oct. 25, 1955 2,745,199 Kreinberg May 15, 1956 2,853,817 Palm Sept. 30, 1958 

